A police officer who lost his daughter after eight years battling a debilitating brain tumour has launched the 'Great Fenland Police Plod' for a 74 mile charity walk across Cambridgeshire.

Natasha Floyd. Her father PC Graham Floyd said: “On December 1, 2015 my daughter Natasha died in my arms from a brain tumour.' Picture: FAMILY

PC Graham Floyd said: “On December 1, 2015 my daughter Natasha died in my arms from a brain tumour. The tumour took a happy, achieving 16-year-old girl and in the space of 48 hours made her totally blind and terminally ill.”

Graham, based at Thorpe Wood Police Station, aims to raise awareness of brain tumours in memory of Natasha who passed away at the age of 24.

Graham, 52, was due to take part in a 62-mile charity walk across the Atlas Mountains and into the Sahara to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity.

However his shoulder was recently injured while making an arrest on duty and as a result he is currently unable to travel abroad. Undeterred however, Graham will instead be taking on a similar challenge in the UK.

Graham will be taking part in a challenge he calls the Great Fenland Police Plod, where he will be walking 74 miles in four days between four different police stations.

He said: “I will be doing this challenge alone and I will be walking carrying a 5ft pole with a flag and carrying a bucket for donations.”

Graham will start off his trek at Peterborough Police Station this Saturday (February 23) and hike to March Police Station.

On Sunday he will continue onto Ely Police Station and on this day, his journey will include a swim across the New Bedford River opposite Straight Drove in Coveney.

On 25 February Graham will walk from Ely to Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.

His charity challenge will finish at force HQ in Huntingdon on 26 February – the day of his 53rd birthday.

Graham added: “Before she passed away Natasha’s last wish was for her whole brain to be donated for research, and it was.

“I would love others to donate and help continue funding this vital work, because it’s true that every penny really does count.

“Your help will have a direct and positive effect on the work research scientists at the Brain Tumour Charity are carrying out.

“So far Natasha’s brain has allowed the team to make significant discoveries about the type of tumour and its characteristics.

“At the moment there is no cure and no treatment beyond making the inevitable more comfortable. We can change this.”

The Brain Tumour Charity funds research into brain tumours globally.

The charity is committed to saving and improving lives, with the aim of helping every single person affected by a brain tumour.

Graham is also supporting HeadSmart, an awareness campaign funded and promoted by the charity.

The campaign works to improve diagnosis times by informing and empowering parents and professionals to spot the early signs and symptoms of brain tumours.

Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “Since Graham lost Natasha – who was a much-loved Young Ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity as well as a cherished daughter and friend – he’s inspired all of us to keep doing whatever we can every single day to spare other families from the devastation he and his wife have faced.

“Graham may describe himself on his fundraising page as ‘unfit and overweight’ but he’s also fiercely determined.

“I have absolutely no doubt he’ll plod (and swim) on until he reaches Huntingdon, even if the going gets tough. We’re immensely grateful to him and to everyone who supports his efforts along the way.”